Automatic water valve



June 17, 1952 D. R. MYERS AUTOMATIC WATER VALVE Filed Jan. 5, 1949 Patented `lune 17, 1952 AUTOMATIC WATER VALVE Davis Russell Myers, Singers Glen, Va., assignor to The Shenandoah Equipment Company, Harrisonburg, Va., a partnership Application January 3, 1949, Serial No. 68,787

Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic water valve for poultry and livestock tanks, or troughs, and has for one of its objects the production of a simple and eii'icient means for closing the valve in the water supply line when the water in the tank or trough exceeds a predetermined volume, or when the tank is disconnected from the actuating lever, and for opening the valve when the volume of water in the tank is below the minimum volume, to maintain the volume of water in the tank or trough at an approximate constant level.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple and efficient means for maintaining water within a tank or trough at an approximate constant level, and also for automatically cutting off the water from a supply line to the tank or trough in the event of an accident to the tank or removal of the tank to avoid a waste of water from the supply line.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear throughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view partly in section of the mechanism of the invention, the valve being shown in a closed position when the water in the tank or trough reaches a maximum volume;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the valve casing, showing the position of the valve mechanism when the water in the tank or trough falls below a minimum volume;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view showing the valve mechanism in an open position;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figur-e 5 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 5 5 of Figure 3; and

Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a modilied form of the invention showing the valve actuating mechanism connected to an actuating float.

By referring to :the drawing, it will be seen that I0 designates a supply line or pipe leading from a main supply line or supply tank, reservoir or the like. A valve casing II in the nature of a depending tubular member is suspended from the supply line or pipe Ill by means of a suitable coupling I2. A valve seat supporting tube I3 is fixed within the casing and extends longitudinally thereof. A suitable valve seat I4 is carried by the lower end of the tube I3 and is provided with a water discharge port I5.

A valve actuating lever I6 is pivotally connected to the lower end of the casing by means of a journal pin Il and this lever I6 extends transversely through the longitudinally extending slots I8 which are formed at the lower end of the casing in diametrically opposed relation. This lever I6 is provided with a notch I9 upon its upper face at the inner end thereof and in that portion of the lever I6 which ts within the casing II. The notch |9 is concave and is formed on the arc of the circle and is curved downwardly thereby dening spaced 4ball contact points 20 and 2| at the opposite ends of the notch I9. The lever |-6 extends laterally of the casing IB, and is provided with a plurality of apertures 22 near its upper edge to which the lower end of the tension coil spring 23 is releas ably and selectively secured. The upper end of the coil spring 23 is connected to the lower end of an adjusting screw 24. This adjusting screw is suspended from a bracket 25, which bracket 25 is held in an adjusted position on the casing II by means of a set screw 26. A thumb nut 2i' is carried by the adjusting screw 24 to adjust the length of the screw 24 relative to the bracket 25 to regulate the tension of the spring 23. A hook 28 is fitted selectively in one of the apertures 29 formed in the lever IB for supporting a suitable tank T through the medium of the detachable connection 30. The tank T may be of any suitable type where the weight thereof is suspended from the lever I6. The present invention, however, is not limited to the particular type of tank or trough T illustrated, since any conventional tank structure of a suitable type may be Iused without departing from the spirit of the invention.

A rectangular valve member 3| preferably square in cross-section extends vertically of the casing |I below the valve seat I4. A rubber closure cap 32 is carried by the upper end of the valve member 3| and is adapted to close the port I5 of the valve seat I4 when the valve member is raised to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2. An actuating ball or circular member 33 is carried within the casing and is of a diameter smaller than that of the casing The ball 33 is adapted to rest in the circular or concave notch I9 when the lever I6 is in the position shown in Figure 3 for supporting the valve 3| in an open position and thereby permitting the free flow of water through the port I5 and over the rubber closure cap 32, down past the valve member 3|, the ball 33, and out through the lower end of the casing into the tank or trough T. The lever I6 and the valve member 3| assume the open position, as shown in Figure 3, when the volume of Water in the tank T is intermediate the maximum and the minimum predetermined volume. The valve member 3| is provided with longitudnal casing contacting corners 34 thereby dening passageways, Asuch as the passageways 35 between the inner face of the casing and the sides of the valve member 3| through which water may pass longitudinally thereof.

When a predetermined volume of water is delivered to the tank T, the weight thereof will swing the outer end of the lever I6 downwardly thereby rolling the -ball 33 at the inner end thereof into engagement with the vcontact point 20 and lifting the valve member to a closed position relative to the port I5, as shown in Figure 1.

This will cut oil? the flow of water and preventv the tank T from overflowing.

When the tank T is disconnected from the arm i6 for cleaning, or if the tank T is accidentally disconnected from the arm I6, the coil spring 23 will swing the lever I6 upwardly to the position shown in Figure 2. The ball 33 will then roll within the concave notch i9, which constitutes a double cam, and by contacting the contacting point 2|, the ball 33 will contact the valve member 3l and force the valve member 3| to a closed position relative to the port 1 5. In this way, the valve '3l will automatically close and prevent waste of water from the line l0, The valve may be used for controlling the flow of liquids of other types without departing from the spirit of the invention.

From the foregoing description, it -will be noted that the valve 3| will automatically cut off the d charge of water from the line l when a predetermined amount of water has entered the tank T and also the valve 3| will automatically close if the tank T is detached from the arm I6. The valve 3l, however, will be opened `when the tank is again connected to the arm I6. It should further be noted that an attendant easily may open the valve 3l by pressing downwardly upon the outer end of the lever I6, when desired.

In Figure 6 there is shown a modied form of the invention wherein the actuating arm |6a actuates a valve element 33a similar to the valve 33 carried within the casing ll a. A oat F is suspended from the outer end of the arm ISa, and this oat F iioats upon the liquid within the -tank A. This type of structure may be used where the container or tank itself is too heavy to hang from the valve actuating arm. The action of the valve element 33a in this instance will 'be the reverse of that described relative to structure shown in Figures 2 and 3. That is to say, the arm ISa will be raised to close the valve on the up stroke, when a predetermined volume of water has entered the tank A, and the valve also will be closed if the arm |611 swings below a predetermined distance.

Certain detail changes in the mechanical construction may be employed without .departing i.,

from the spirit of the invention, `so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the claimed as new is:

1. A valve comprising a casing having a valve seat and port, a reciprocating valve for opening and closing said port, an actuating lever pivoted to said casing below said valve, said lever having a concave notch, an intermediate actuating member interposed between the valve and notch, said notch constituting a cam having spaced 4portions to alternately engage the intermediate actuating member to move said valve toa ,closed position when said lever is selectively raised and lowered, and said intermediate actuating `member being adapted to fall into said notch to release said valve to an open position when said lever moves to a position intermediate its raised and lowered positions.

2. A valve comprising a casing having an apertured valve seat, a valve for opening and closing said valve seat, a ball supporting said Valve, an actuating lever pivoted to said casing below -said valve, said lever having a concave notch in which invent-ion, what is said ball normally rests to support said valve in an open position, and said notch having a ballcontacting point at each end thereof located laterally of the pivot point of said lever to raise said t ball and move said valve to a closed position when said lever is raised to a predetermined distance and also when said lever is lowered to a predetermined position.

3. A valve comprising a casing having an apertured valve seat, a valve for opening and closing said valve seat, a ball supporting said valve, an actuating lever pivoted to said casing below said valve, said lever having a concave notch in which said ball normally rests to support said valve in an open position, said notch having a ball-contacting point at each end thereof located laterally of the pivot point of said lever to raise said ball and move said valve to a closed position when said lever is raised to a predetermined distance and also when said lever is lowered to a predetermined position, tension means for raising said lever, and a predetermined weight engaging said lever for lowering said lever.

4. A valve comprising a casing having an apertured valve seat, a valve for opening and closing said valve seat, a ball supporting said Valve, an actuating lever pivoted to said casing below said valve, said lever having a concave notch in Iwhich said ball normally rests to support said valve in an open position, said notch having a ball-contacting point at each end thereof located laterally of the pivot point of said lever to raise said ball and move said valve toa closed position when said lever is raised to a predetermined distance and also when said lever is lowered to a predetermined position, an adjustable tension means for raising said lever, and a predetermined weight engaging said lever for lowering said lever.

5. A valve comprising a casing having an apertured valve seat, a valve for opening and closing said valve seat, a ball supporting said valve, an actuating lever pivoted to said casing below said valve, said lever having a concave notch in which said ball normally rests to support said valve in ,-5 an open position, said notch having a ball-conf liquid -secured to said lever for lowering said lever.

DAVIS RUSSELL MYERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 'le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,080,290 Martin Dec. 2, 1913 1,415,178 Imachweiler May 9, 1922 1,753,122 Kielsmeir Apr. l, 1930 '1,868,922 Schwerin July 26, 1932 1,915,739 Johnson June 27, 1933 2,162,314 Perri June 13, 1939 2,261,234 DeLancey Nov. 4, 1941 2,400,561 Harris May 21, 1946 2,407,789 Koehler Sept. 17, 1946 2,472,387 Shepherd June 7, 1949 2,537,798 Smith Jan. 9, 1951 

